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Rahul Gandhi questioned over ‘rape’ remark is not politics, but that’s how police is supposed to work, here is why

Raju Das
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Rahul Gandhi questioned over ‘rape’ remark is not politics, but that’s how police is supposed to work, here is why

After Delhi Police sent a notice to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi seeking details of women who complained to him that they were raped, the Congress party has launched an attack on the Narendra Modi government. The Congress has alleged that the govt is rattled by Rahul Gandhi’s questions on the relationship between PM Modi and Gautam Adani.

Calling it “another proof of a government in panic,” the party said on 16 March that the notice was an effort by the govt to “weaken democracy, women empowerment, freedom of expression and role of the opposition.” The party repeated the allegations after a team of Delhi Police went to Rahul Gandhi’s house to talk to him over the matter.

The party alleged that the Delhi police is doing this on the orders of the central government. “Without Amit Shah’s order, it is not possible that police could show such audacity to enter the house of a national leader without any reason. Rahul Gandhi said that he has received the notice and he will reply to it but still, the police went to his house,” said Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

While the Congress party is crying political vendetta, the fact remains that Rahul Gandhi alleged serious crimes against women, and the police have to take action for such crimes. It is notable that on 30 January in Srinagar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said that several women had met him during the yatra and narrated the sexual harassment they had faced.

Rahul Gandhi also mentioned it in his already controversial speech at Cambridge university in the UK, where he said that when he was walking in his Bharat Jodo Yatra, two women who are sisters had approached him and told him that they were gang-raped by 5 men. He also said that when he offered to inform the police about it, they declined, saying that they will be shamed and they will never get married if he calls the cops.

Following this, taking cognizance of social media posts on Rahul Gandhi’s comments, the Delhi Police sent a questionary to him and asked him to give details about women who approached him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and alleged that they faced sexual harassment. The police asked him to give the details of those women so that action can be taken in those cases, and the victims can be provided security.

Delhi Police has also said that they already started an investigation after Rahul Gandhi made the comments, but couldn’t make any progress as they didn’t find any unreported rape cases. That is why they sent the questionnaire to Rahul Gandhi to give the detail of the women who talked to him saying that they were raped.

Talking about the investigation, Special CP (L&O) of Delhi Police Dr Sagar Preet Hooda said that as the Bharat Jodo Yara went through Delhi, the police had tried to find any information about any cases of sexual assault after Rahul Gandhi’s comments. But after they couldn’t find any information, they decided to ask the Congress leader about it.

He said that they are trying to gather information about the crimes from Rahul Gandhi, but he has not provided it yet. He added that police have requested Gandhi to provide to give the information at the earliest so that the probe can start immediately, and there is no loss of evidence and further abuse of the victims.

Right of police to launch a probe

What the Delhi Police is doing is part of the job of the police, to take action whenever there are reports of a crime. Moreover, it is not required for someone to lodge a complaint before the police can initiate action. The police have the right to start an investigation on their own after they learn about a criminal act in cases involving cognizable offences.

We have seen many times police taking action based on social media videos posted on social media platforms. Because the moment police learn about a crime, they have the duty and the authority to launch a probe, regardless of whether a formal complaint was filed or not.

Moreover, if the case is related to a cognizable crime, the police do not require a magistrate’s order to start an investigation, while a magistrate’s order is required for non-Cognizable offences. Rape is a Cognizable offence.

Section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure says that the officer in charge of the police may, without the prior permission of the Magistrate start the process of investigation in cases involving cognizable offences. If the police suspect that a cognizable offence has taken place, they can start an investigation even without any formal FIR. Moreover, the police officer of a particular police station can investigate the crime even if it was committed outside the jurisdiction of the police station.

The section further states that police have the statutory right to investigate and if a police officer is investigating a case, then the judiciary cannot give orders to stop the investigation. However, if police have not started a probe, the magistrate can issue orders to the police to start the investigation.

Section 156(2) further states that at any point during the investigation, the police can’t be questioned alleging that it is not empowered to investigate the case.

While the Delhi police have started action after the comments by Rahul Gandhi, they can’t proceed without his cooperation. This is because to launch any probe into the alleged rape crimes, the police must identify the victims, and Rahul Gandhi is the only person who knows the victims.

If the police can’t identify the victims, they can’t file formal FIRs, and can’t proceed further with the probes, or hand over the cases to the respective police stations of the places where the crimes took place.

It is notable that in general, a person is not legally bound to report a crime even if he has knowledge about it. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi didn’t witness the crimes, the victims told him about the alleged crimes, so he can’t be summoned as a witness. But as he has alleged that several women narrated their ordeals to him, as a responsible citizen he should help the police in ensuring justice for those women.

Legally bound to give information if rape victim is minor

It is also important to mention that if any of the victims that met Rahul Gandhi was a minor, then Rahul Gandhi has to give the details to the police. Not reporting a crime of sexual assault of a minor despite knowing about it is actually a punishable crime.

According to section 19(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), if any person has apprehension that an offence under the act is likely to be committed or has knowledge that such an offence has been committed, such a person has to provide such information to Special Juvenile Police Unit or the local police.

Section 21 of the act also states that non-reporting of a crime under POCSO can be punished with imprisonment for up to 6 months or a fine or both. According to a Supreme Court judgement last year, non-reporting of sexual assault against a minor child despite knowledge is a serious crime.

As at present, none of the victims that spoke Rahul Gandhi has been identified, it can’t be said at present whether this provision of POCSO will apply or not.

Telangana: BJP condemns attack on Q News office, says ‘BRS goons’ behind the attack

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: BJP condemns attack on Q News office, says ‘BRS goons’ behind the attack

On March 19, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, condemned the attack on the Q News office. Reddy blamed ruling party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for the attack. In a tweet, Reddy wrote, “The attack on the media house Q Group Media by ruling party BRS goons is unfortunate & shameful. This is the real face of CM KCR, KTR family. Telangana DGP must take action against these goons.”

Q Group Media, which runs Q News, shared a video of the incident on their Facebook page. In the video, masked miscreants could be seen breaking the glasses of the Q Media House’s office located in Hyderabad. Teenmar Mallanna owns the channel. As per reports, around 25 unidentified people came in three cars, without number plates, at around 1 PM. They attacked the office and damaged the furniture.

A complaint has been filed at Medipalli Police Station. The investigation into the matter is underway. Mallanna’s team alleged that supporters of Ministers Mallareddy, KTR, and Kavitha attacked them. At the time of the attack, Mallanna was not at the office. The Q News office has been attacked four times earlier as well before the recent attack.

Desidust reported that one of the attackers was caught by the staff. The incident was live-streamed by Q News.

This is a developing story. OpIndia tried contacting the channel but could not connect.

DJ Azex aka Akshay Kumar found hanging in his room, family accuses his girlfriend

OpIndia Staff
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DJ Azex aka Akshay Kumar found hanging in his room, family accuses his girlfriend

Akshay Kumar, popularly known as DJ Azex, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Saturday (March 18).

The family members found his body hanging in his room after breaking open the door. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the Kharavel Nagar police have registered a case and launched a probe into the matter.

The deceased’s body has been kept in the Capital hospital mortuary in Bhubaneswar. The family members of Azex have accused his girlfriend and her male friend of being involved in his death.

According to them, his girlfriend had been demanding money and mentally harassing him along with her friend. They suspect blackmailing to be the reason behind Azex’s death.

The family has lodged a complaint, and a case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 306 (abetment of suicide). Bholanath Moharana, the deceased DJ’s uncle, has claimed that all evidence regarding the alleged blackmailing is on Azex’s mobile phone, which needs to be verified by the police.

While speaking about the matter, the friend of DJ Azex said, “The girl was demanding money on regular occasions and was mentally harassing him along with a male friend. We want a detailed investigation into the matter as he was being harassed over some pictures or video.”

Bhubaneswar Zone-1 ACP, Manas Gadnayak, informed that preliminary investigation suggests that it is a case of suicide due to mental pressure. He also added that the investigation is ongoing and that the truth will come out.

The sudden death of Azex has shocked his fans and the music industry. He had 95K followers on Instagram.

Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif government exploring legal options to declare Imran Khan’s PTI a banned outfit

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif government exploring legal options to declare Imran Khan’s PTI a banned outfit

The Pakistani government is contemplating initiating legal action to designate Imran Khan Niazi’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as a banned organisation.

“Terrorists were hiding in Zaman Park. Weapons, petrol bombs, etc have been recovered from the residence of Imran Khan which is enough evidence to file a case against the PTI for being a militant organisation,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that the legal team of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was examining the matter.

On the government’s plan to initiate the process to ban Khan’s party, the minister said, “Primarily it is a judicial process to declare any party proscribed. However, we will consult our legal team on the issue.”

The push to name PTI a ‘militant outfit’ came from the former prime minister and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is also the senior vice president of the party. She also posted a video of the Zaman Park violence, labeling the supporters of the former Prime Minister as ‘trained terrorists & miscreants recruited from banned outfits that Imran Khan has always been supportive of.’

Dragging India and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into their politics, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed with his niece’s assertion and accused him of ‘intimidating judiciary.’

Meanwhile, an Islamabad court delayed the arrest warrant of the ex-captain of Pakistan’s cricket team in the ‘Toshakhana case’ until March 30. He was allowed to go back after marking attendance outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex on Saturday.

This infuriated the leaders of the coalition government who referred to the court’s decision as ‘special treatment’ granted to the PTI chief.

Earlier that day, hours after he departed to appear before a local court in Islamabad, the Punjab police conducted a search of his Zaman Park property and arrested a number of party members. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore himself monitored the operation as the police used heavy machinery to break down the gate of his residence.

An anti-terror court granted permission to conduct the search inside Imran Khan’s residence. Police were accompanied by water cannons, bulldozers, and a prisoner van. They soon demolished PTI camps in the area with the help of cranes and removed barriers and containers.

Posting a video of the police action, Imran Khan called it ‘contempt of court.’ Furthermore, he charged, that the assault began after ‘I left to present myself before Islamabad court, and Bushra bibi (his wife), a totally private non-political person, was alone in the house.’ He also called it a violation of the ‘Islamic principle.’

The PTI leader questioned, “Under what law are they doing this?” He reiterated, that this was part of the ‘London Plan’ where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power.

Pakistan witnessed violent clashes between law enforcement agencies, including Pakistan Rangers, and PTI members, first on March 9, and then again on March 15 and 16.

Shamima Begum learned how to use suicide belts and guns, she will never change: Former Yazidi sex slave exposes the ISIS bride

OpIndia Staff
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Shamima Begum learned how to use suicide belts and guns, she will never change: Former Yazidi sex slave exposes the ISIS bride

Amidst attempts at an image makeover of Shamima Begum, a 20-year-old Yazidi sex slave exposed how the former ISIS bride was at the helm of undergoing training in suicide belts and guns.

The eyewitness, identified as one ‘Dila’ (name changed), was interviewed by documentary producer Alan Duncan in North Kurdistan (Iraq) for The Sun news paper.

Dila narrated that Shamima was part of a terrorist training camp (called Students of Sharia), wherein they were taught to use guns (shotguns and M16 assault rifles) and suicide belts.

She informed that ISIS terrorists at that ‘makeshift school’ trained from dawn to dusk and attended lectures on Sharia law. It was at that training camp in Deir ez-Zor in Syria where the victim saw Shamima Begum.

She warned the interviewer against the ‘fake new persona’ of the former ISIS bride. Dila said, “It is fake by Begum. Living with ISIS women and ISIS in general, I understand how they think, how loyal they are to their Sharia ideas.”

She emphasised, “Even if they are not in ISIS – I don’t think they have an open mentality, I am certain. They are faking facts, women of ISIS will never change, they still believe in what they believe.”

Shamima was friends with a German slave master who sold my sister: Dila

One of the reasons why Dila remembered Shamima so distinctly was because she too had to attend the same terrorist training camp as her. She recounted how Yazidi women were subjected to forced conversions and brutally assaulted if they resisted.

They were coerced to attend lessons in Sharia. Given that Dila was able to convince the ISIS terrorists that she was ‘one of them’, they let her attend the training camp.

The Yazidi sex slave informed the interviewer that Shamima Begum was good friends with a German ISIS slave master, presumably named ‘Um-Herrera.’ The latter had sold several Yazidi girls, including Dila’s 14-year-old sister (who is still missing).

“I assumed they were close friends because of the way they talked to each other,” Dila recounted.

Shamima Begum was not a stay-at-home housewife: Eyewitness

Following the birth of her first child, Shamima Begum reportedly joined the brutal ‘morality police’ of ISIS. Alan Duncan reported that she carried a Kalashnikov assault rifle and helped in stitching suicide bombing vests.

Although the ISIS bride had claimed to be a ‘stay-at-home housewife’, eyewitnesses told the documentary producer that Shamima was an active ISIS terrorist.

She reportedly gave speeches to incite suicide bombers, keeping a record of those who wished to fight for the Islamic State and conduct suicide attacks. According to her ‘jihadi husband’, Yago Riedijk, Shamima “received wages for the terrorist group.”

She had earlier admitted to witnessing beheadings, justified the bombing of Manchester Arena, and downplayed the rape of Yazidi women and children by ISIS terrorists.

The tragic story of Dila and the plight of Yazidis

Dila was kidnapped when she was 13 years old. She was then sold as a slave in the Iraqi city of Mosul before being abducted and taken to Syria’s Raqqa. The victim was then raped, and abused by ISIS terrorists for over 7 years.

After the West launched an offensive against ISIS terror camps, Dila was moved to Deir ez- Zor where she met Shamima Begum. Following the fall of ISIS, she was eventually freed. However, the inhumane treatment meted out to her haunts her to this day.

The terror outfit has so far killed over 5,000 Yazidis, whom they consider ‘devil worshippers’. More than 10,000 Yazidis were kidnapped and over 5 lakh people were forced to leave their homes. Women and children were sold, raped, and forcibly converted to Islam.

While Dila was able to escape, about 2,700 Yazidi children and women are still believed to be in captivity by ISIS.

The way forward

While speaking about the plight of Yazidi women, who were taken as sex slaves by ISIS, lawyer Zemfira Dlovani told The Sun, “The role of the woman was not just being a ‘bride’ – but they were killing people, having slaves and beating people. They did everything the men did.”

“We need to help the Yazidis get back to their homes, this is the most important thing – the genocide is ongoing, and we need help from all over the world,” she concluded.

Alan Duncan said, “They are ticking time bombs, many of them think they have lost the battle but not the war. There is no doubt in my mind many of them are a danger to this country, yet there is a lack of will to exact justice for the victims.”

He emphasised, “A lot of people in the UK are screaming about Begum’s rights – but why are they not screaming about the rights of the Yazidis? With the way things are – even if she gets back to the UK – she will never serve a day in prison.”

Rahul Gandhi replies to Delhi Police notice on his ‘women are gang raped’ remark, seeks time to compile and submit details

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi replies to Delhi Police notice on his ‘women are gang raped’ remark, seeks time to compile and submit details

On Sunday, March 19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought time from Delhi Police to give information about his claim that two women confided in him about being gang raped during the Kashmir leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Rahul Gandhi told police that he needed some time and will provide the information they requested. The police then served a notice to the Congress scion adding that police will also question Rahul Gandhi if required.

“We held a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. He said he needs some time and will give us the information which we’ve asked for. Today we’ve served a notice which has been accepted by his office and if questioning needs to be done then we will do it,” Special CP(L&O) Sagar Preet Hooda said.

According to Special CP Hooda, Rahul Gandhi also said that he required time to compile the ‘information’ since it was a long yatra during which he interacted with several people. He has assured the police that he will provide the information soon. He further stated that the police would begin its proceedings after getting information from Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier today, a team of Delhi police arrived at the residence of Rahul Gandhi seeking information about the victims Rahul Gandhi claimed to have interacted with during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi initially spoke of the victims at Srinagar on January 30 this year during Bharat Jodo Yatra, and the Congress scion reiterated his claims during his anti-India tirade at the University of Cambridge on February 28.

“In one particular case, a girl told me that she was raped. I asked her to call the police. She declined to do so, saying that she would be shamed by society,” Rahul Gandhi had said in Srinagar.

He also made similar claims during his talk at Cambridge university. The Congress scion said that two women had approached him during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and held his hand. He said that one of the women told him, “my sister and I were gang raped by five men.”

Rahul Gandhi said that when he offered to call the cops, they declined, saying that they would be shamed and remain unmarried. According to him, the duo only confided in him because they thought of the Congress leader as their ‘brother’.

Party leaders Ashok Gehlot, Jairam Ramesh, and Abhishek Singhvi claimed the action was a clear case of “vendetta, intimidation, and harassment” in order to create a climate against the former Congress chief. They were speaking at a joint press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

Gehlot claimed that “even Hitler gained popularity initially, however, what in Germany afterward is known to everyone.”

The Gandhi family loyalist also claimed that the Indian democracy is under threat and that the federal probe agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and even the High Court and Election Commission are working under the pressure of the central government. 

Congress leader and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that “what happened today is not a minor incident. How can they dare to do so?”

“During BJY, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that he met women, who told him that they were raped and molested, but didn’t get justice. Delhi police has been asking for details but Rahul wouldn’t tell. Assuming he didn’t lie then, it shows his feeble commitment towards ensuring justice…”

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former Union cabinet minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Rahul Gandhi should refrain from making foolish remarks. He makes remarks like this that are derogatory to the women and people of our country. The police and the investigating agencies will question him if he makes false remarks. Naqvi added that Rahul Gandhi should apologize to the nation for his comments.

‘Poore ke poore Islam mein aa jao’: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind organises awareness program for Muslims to make them ‘full Muslim’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Poore ke poore Islam mein aa jao’: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind organises awareness program for Muslims to make them ‘full Muslim’

On March 19, an image of a banner by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was made to social media where the organisation talked about an awareness program for Muslims to make them “full Muslim”. The banner was placed in the Lal Darwaja area in Ahmedabad. Speaking to OpIndia, a Jamiat official said that the program was organised to spread awareness about Islam amongst Muslims and make them ‘full Muslim’.

The banner read, “‘poore ke poore Islam mein aa jao’ (turn fully to Islam)”. It is supposed to mean that Muslims who practice the faith but half-heartedly should embrace it fully and become ‘full Muslims’.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind propagates conversions and lures non-Muslims to events

In March 2023, it was reported that the organisation held meet-and-greet Maulana programs titled ‘Masjid Darshan’. A Twitter user named Ramesh Shinde informed how the Mapusa unit (Goa) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is conducting a ‘masjid darshan‘ besides a meet-and-greet session with the Islamic cleric (Maulana). Interestingly, the cleric is also called a ‘priest’, with the objective of creating a better India.

In October 2022, an event organised by JIH was cancelled after Vishwa Hindu Parishad protested against it as it was meant for non-Muslim girls. After VHP’s intervention, Telangana Police refused to permit the event.

India Today Conclave: Kalli Purie remembers pre-2014 days when 24 ministers were recalled from an event over uncomfortable questions

OpIndia Staff
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India Today Conclave: Kalli Purie remembers pre-2014 days when 24 ministers were recalled from an event over uncomfortable questions

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, the Group Vice Chairperson Kalli Purie responded to the allegations of media being controlled by the government. Remembering the time before 2014, Kalli Purie said that a party, angry with the questions being asked, removed all 24 of its ministers from a program.

Kalli Purie said, “Nowadays a new trend of calling the media ‘sold out’ and ‘Godi Media‘ has started. People ask me to tell them honestly or personally or off the record if there is too much pressure. I want to say from this forum that yes there is a lot of pressure. This pressure is created by everyone from political parties to business houses and foreign governments. This pressure is not new.”

Kali Puri further said, “We were threatened for 10 years by the largest industrial house for running the cover story. We were threatened by an ambassador for doing a cover story about the Dalai Lama. Not only this, but there is also a party that removed all its 24 ministers from the conclave before the event. That party was not happy with the questions we were asking him. All this was before 2014.”

Purie also mentioned other practices like people boycotting a channel, uninstalling news applications, rating them down, etc. She added, “However, no one else is needed to deal with this pressure. These are all normal things.”

Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya shared the video of Purie’s statements and tweeted, “For all of Rahul Gandhi’s talk on democracy in danger, freedom of expression blah blah, here is Vice Chairperson of India Today group telling how before 2014, a certain political party pulled out all its ministers hours before the conclave because they didn’t like the questions.”

India Today Conclave was held on 17th and 18th March at Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi.

Amritpal Singh’s financier and close aide Daljeet Singh Kalsi arrested in Gurugram, video surfaces on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Amritpal Singh’s financier and close aide Daljeet Singh Kalsi arrested in Gurugram, video surfaces on social media

On March 19, a CCTV video went viral on social media that allegedly showed the arrest of Punjabi film actor Daljeet Singh Kalsi. He is a close aide of pro-Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh. Punjab Police and other security agencies are on a manhunt to arrest Amritpal Singh after launching a massive crackdown on Waris Punjab De led by him. Kalsi was also a close aide of actor-turned-activist late Deep Sidhu, who had founded the organisation Waris Punjab De. Kalsi was arrested from his house in Gurugram with the help of Haryana Police.

Daljeet Singh Kalsi alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi is an alleged advisor and financer of Amritpal Singh. Reportedly, he was arrested on Sunday.

A total of 78 associates of Amritpal Singh have been arrested so far. Singh, on the other hand, managed to escape. Amritpal has been declared a fugitive by the Punjab Police. The police are questioning the arrested members of Waris Punjab De.

Amidst the statewide crackdown on the organisation, the State Home Ministry suspended mobile services in Punjab. Initially, they were suspended till March 19, 12 PM. Later, the suspension was extended till March 20, 12 PM. Furthermore, Section 144 has been imposed in the state to ensure law and order. Four of the arrested associates were taken to Assam. It is unclear who was shifted out of the state.

In a surprising move, 4 associates of Amritpal Singh were transported to Dibrugarh in Assam by a special Indian Air Force Plan, accompanied by a team of 27 members of the Punjab Police. They are currently lodged in Dibrugarh central jail, but their identities have not been disclosed.

In February this year, OpIndia reported that Amritpal Singh was using social media, including Clubhouse, to propagate his Khalistani agenda. In one of the recordings we accessed of the Clubhouse rooms, Daljeet Kalsi was also a speaker.

During the discussion, Kalsi talked about his experience as a Sikh employee at a store, possibly at Elante mall, and talking in Hindi at Elante Mall. When asked, Kalsi claimed there was a clause in his contract with the company that he could not speak in Punjabi. He demanded strict action against such orders in Punjab.

Amritpal Singh declared fugitive

On March 18, Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh and his associates in Punjab. Security personnel from Central agencies, including CRPF in the state for the G20 summit, joined the operation with Punjab Police. The Police arrested 78 associates of Amritpal Singh during the operation. Punjab Police issued an advisory not to believe rumours on social media. Furthermore, internet services were shut in the state until March 19, 12 PM, and extended to March 20, 12 PM. Punjab Government imposed Section 144 in the state to ensure law and order. Deep Sidhu’s brother Mandeep said in a statement his family does not agree with Amritpal Singh’s ideology and claimed Waris Punjab De under Amritpal Singh is a different organisation.

8 lakh youths in North Korea volunteer to join military to fight against USA: North Korean media

OpIndia Staff
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8 lakh youths in North Korea volunteer to join military to fight against USA: North Korean media

On 17th March 2023, more than 8,00,000 youth league officials and students in North Korea showed their willingness to join the military forces to fight against the United States of America (USA). According to a report by North Korean media Rodong Sinmun, this was done in an exercise by North Korea to demonstrate “the practical will of action to use powerful physical force to exercise strict control over the enemies”.

This claim by North Korea came after the launch of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, 16th March 2023. This launch is seen as a response to the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. 

According to reports, youths and students in Pyongyang and other regions of North Korea organized gatherings to volunteer for army service. It is also reported that the commanding officers and volunteers of the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade, as well as many other working youngsters, requested that they be given the opportunity to lead a great battle against the USA.

North Korea’s state news agency KCNA stated, “Under the grave situation in which the most unstable security environment is being created in the Korean peninsula due to the frantic, provocative and aggressive large-scale war drills conducted by the US and the south Korean puppet traitors against the DPRK, the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WK) saw to it that a launching drill of the ICBM Hwasong Pho-17 was conducted on March 16.”

It further said, “The launching drill of the strategic weapon serves as an occasion to give a strong warning to the enemies intentionally escalating the tension in the Korean peninsula while persistently resorting to irresponsible and reckless military threats in defiance of the DPRK’s severe warning, and give an understanding of the concern about the armed conflict which has come to a threatening reality, and to more clearly show the practical will of the Party and government of the DPRK to counterattack with overwhelming offensive measures anytime.”

Detailing the range and capabilities of the missile, the statement mentioned, “The ICBM Hwasongpho-17, launched at the Pyongyang International Airport, traveled up to a maximum altitude of 6,045km and flew a distance of 1,000.2 km for 4151s before accurately landing on the preset area in the open waters of the East Sea of Korea.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised the launch of an ICBM unit during a drill. Senior members of the WK Central Committee and commanding officials from the Missile General Bureau were present, and Kim Jong-un himself saw the launch. The drill’s goal was to test North Korea’s nuclear war deterrent system’s reliance and operational preparedness under practical and mobile circumstances.

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